Nussdorf: Church Art, Castle and Contemporary Art

Nussdorf combines Late Gothic church art, castle history and contemporary art with hiking routes and a remarkable natural environment. The Heiligkreuzkirche and the castle tell the story of different historical building phases; at KUNSTWERK Sammlung Klein, contemporary art takes centre stage. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Nussdorf, these different aspects of the village can help you plan your holiday.

The Heiligkreuzkirche and its history

The Church of the Holy Cross was built in 1482 by Master Peter of Koblenz in the Late Gothic style. It formerly served as a cemetery church and is now a parish church; it was also a pilgrimage church. Its furnishings include tombs of the von Reischach family and extensive wall and ceiling paintings depicting the Passion of Christ and the Last Judgement. This brings religious history, painting and the memory of a local family together in one building.

Events from the 20th century are also part of the building’s history: in the 1945 fire, the choir and its vaulted paintings remained undamaged. The church was restored around 1950. The combination of its Late Gothic origins and later restoration gives the church a layered history, which can be traced from the significance of its paintings to its present-day role as a parish church.

Castle history, park and art

The castle of the Barons of Reischach was originally built in the 15th century and extensively remodelled in 1879. Schloss Nussdorf stands on medieval foundations; its architectural features are attributed to the German Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance periods. The ensemble includes a castle park with rubble-stone perimeter walls and a gate marked with the year 1879. Its different periods and architectural elements make the castle another gateway to the history of Nussdorf.

KUNSTWERK Sammlung Klein offers a very different perspective. The museum presents exhibitions twice a year featuring a collection of nearly 2,000 works and is part of the ART LOOP sculpture trail. Stefan Rohrer’s sculpture “The Fast and the Furious” stands directly in front of KUNSTWERK. In this way, an exhibition programme, art along a cycling route and a sculpture in public space come together. If you would like to plan around a particular exhibition, check the current dates in advance.

Hiking routes and protected nature

The brochure “Discover Your Homeland on Foot” describes hiking trails around Nussdorf. Nussdorf Town Hall and Nussdorf sports ground are designated starting points for circular routes. Before setting out on a particular hike, it is worth checking the current signs and trail conditions, as both can change.

The Lichthölzle near Nussdorf is also part of the natural landscape. It is of statewide importance in the General Wildlife Corridors Plan. Unusually large populations of mound-building wood ants live there; their nests are strictly protected. This distinctive feature is a good reason to observe nature considerately and leave the protected nests undisturbed.

In the wider destination of Eberdingen

Beyond Nussdorf, the wider destination of Eberdingen offers additional topics to consider when planning a holiday. In Hochdorf/Enz, the Celtic Museum has four interactive stations: visitors can try on Celtic clothing, work in a goldsmith’s workshop, make flour by hand and assemble a vessel from shards in a ceramics workshop. Also in Hochdorf, at Biegel, is the reconstructed Hallstatt-period princely burial mound. It is 60 metres in diameter and 6 metres high. These offer different ways to engage with history: hands-on activities in the museum and a striking reconstructed archaeological site.

ART LOOP also offers a broader regional perspective: this 35-kilometre circular art cycling route leads from Schwieberdingen station via Hemmingen to the Eberdingen districts of Nussdorf and Hochdorf and back. Eberdingen is also on the long-distance Gäu.Rand.Weg hiking trail, on the eastern edge of the Heckengäu. These regional offerings are part of the wider destination of Eberdingen, not additional features of Nussdorf’s individual attractions. When choosing a holiday apartment in Nussdorf, these distinctions can help you decide what to focus on during your trip: church and castle history, contemporary art, hiking or observing nature.

For the wider travel overview: Eberdingen.